Ring cutter



April 15, 1941.

M. M. MAGUIN 2,238,494

RING QUTTER Filed Nov. 7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 1W. 1W. Maya in W A TTORNEY April 15', 1941. v M. M. MAGUIN 2,238,494

RING CUTTER Filed Nqv. 7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 111. M m wen I A TTORNE Y Patented Apr. 15, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RING CUTTER Margarita Mercedes Maguin, New York, N. Y. Application November 7, 1940, Serial No. 364,623

13 Claims.

My invention relates to cutters which may be worn on the hand, more particularly in the form of finger rings.

Cutters of this sort already appear in the prior art, exemplified in Patent 824,925 to Gosnell; 1,324,672 to Hempel; and 1,432,316 to Binkis. These prior devices, however, do not serve eflicaciously for my purposes. The primary object of my invention is to provide a ring cutter which will be economical to manufacture, easy to operate, and simple and graceful in appearance. To achieve this, I apply the cutter to the underside of the upper portion of the ring, provide means for positively propelling the blade a predetermined distance by a single touch of a finger of the other hand, and

' utilizing a spring to automatically retract the blade to inoperative position.

Other objects will appear in the following description, reference being had to the accompanylng drawings, forming part of this specification.

Fig. 1 represents an elevation, partially in section, of one form of my ring cutter.

Fig. 2 is a. lateral section through the struc-v ture of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is plan of the same device.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan of a second form of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a lateral section along the section line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view, partially cut away, of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 represents a medial section through a third form of my cutter.

Fig. 9 is a lateral section of Fig. 8, taken along the section line 9-9.

The species shown in Figs. 1 to 4 will be described first.

The ring I is made of flexible metal and is open at the lower portion, as shown, to permit adjustment to fit the size of any finger. A blade I is mounted on the underside of the flange I2, and is adapted to be propelled outwardly by manually depressing the button |3 against the compression of the helical spring l4, and to be automatically retracted by the spring H. To this end, a boss I is struck up from the ring and has projecting therefrom two fixed lateral pins IS. The one] cam slots l! in which the pins l6 may ride, so that as the button I3 is depressed, the pins l6 will cause the button to rotate a quarter of a movable button l3 has two diag-,

revolution. A tongue 41 on the button I3 is adapted to fit in a lateral groove IS in the rear of the blade whereby rotation of the button l3 will advance the blade II to the desired eX- tent. The flange |2 has guides 3, attached thereto or integral therewith, for the purpose of guiding the movement of the blade Preferably, the ring cutter is worn on the thumb of the left hand, with the flange projecting outwardly. When it is desired to cut a thread, as for example in sewing on a machine, the work is held in the left hand to keep the thread taut. The tip of the flange I2 is held against the thread, and the button I3 is depressed. As the button is pushed, it will rotate approximately ninety degrees and advance the blade against the thread. The blade H is very sharp, of course, so that it can shear through the thread at once. The spring l4 will automatically return the blade I l and the button l3 to their inoperative or non-cutting position, in which the blade is not exposed. It should be noted that the mechanism has no projections other than the button l3, which is round and relatively low, or sharp springs or other parts which can possibly cut or snag the work or injure the operator. This consideration is an important factor where speed, safety, and efflciency are desired.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 show a second form of my cutter.

In this species, the button 23 is not depressible, but is affixed to the blade 2| by the lugs 25 or similar means. The lugs 25 are slidable in slots 26 in the flange 22. A spring 24 is attached at one end to one of the lugs 25 to move with the button 23 and the blade 2|, and at the other end to the blade guide 28 depending from the flange 22, whereby the blade 2| is automatically retracted when pressure on the button is released. In this form, the pressure on the button 23 is in the same direction as the movement of the blade 2 I.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the button 33 is depressible, but not rotatable or slidable, to'force out the blade 3 l. The lower tip 36 of the forward portion of the button 33 is cammed or wedge-shaped, so that when the button 33 is forced downwardly the cam or wedge 36 will propel the blade 3| forwardly. The boss 35 provides a guide and support for the button 33. The helical spring 34 seated on the upper surface of the ring will raise the button when the pressure is removed, and the spring 39 will retract the blade 3|. The blade 3| will be guided in its movements by the fixed guides 38 and the bent-down tip of the flange 32.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a ring, a flange forming an extension of the upper surface of the ring, a movable blade mounted parallel to and underneath the flange, means above the flange for propelling the blade, and means for automatically retracting the blade.

2. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for propelling the blade comprises a button which is manually operable.

3. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for propelling the blade comprises a button, means for rotating the button as it is operated, and means for converting the rotary movement of the button into a linear movement of the blade.

4. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for propelling the blade comprises a button, means for attaching the button to one end of the blade, and slots in the flange to permit the button and the blade to move relatively to the flange.

5. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for propelling the blade comprises a button, a slot in the flange, and a cam on the button extending through the flange and adapted to propel the blade when the button is actuated.

6. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for propelling the blade is simultaneously rotatable and depressible.

7. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for propelling the blade is slidable.

8. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for propelling the blade is rotatable.

9. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for retracting the blade comprises a spring, one end of which is fixed to the propelling means and the other end to the blade.

10. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for retracting the blade comprises a helical spring extending through an opening in the flange and bearing against the propelling means.

11. A device of the character described, comprising a ring, a flange forming an extension. of the upper surface of the ring, a movable blade mounted parallel to and underneath the flange, a boss projecting above an opening in the flange, a button adapted to fit in said boss and to be depressed in the opening in the flange, a lateral pin fixed to the .boss, a diagonal cam slot in the button adapted to receive the pin, whereby depression of the button will cause it to rotate, a tongue depending from the button through the opening in the flange, a lateral slot in the rear of the blade to receive the tongue, whereby rotation of the button will cause the tongue to advance the blade, and spring means exerting pressure on the button to return it and the blade to non-cutting position.

12. A device of the character described, comprising a ring, a flange forming an extension of the upper surface of the ring, a movable blade mounted parallel to and underneath the flange, slots in the flange in the direction of movement of the blade, 2, button on the flange attached to the blade by means of lugs passing through the slots in the flange, and a spring between the flange and the blade for retracting the blade to non-cutting position.

13. A device of the character described, comprising a ring, a flange forming an extension of the upper surface of the ring, a movable blade mounted parallel to and underneath the flange, an opening in the flange, a button on the flange and having a cam portion extending through the opening in the flange, said cam portion being adapted to act on the rear of the blade to force the latter into cutting position as the button is depressed, spring means for returning the button to upright position, and additional spring means.

for returning the blade to non-cutting position.

MARGARITA MERCEDES MAGUIN. 

